Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've just acquired my first uroplatus. She is a wild caught adult. Ofcourse she is very stressed from the move and the shipping process. My concern is that when she first arrived she jumped into the screeen top afew times, banging up the tip of her snout in the process. She is not bleeding or anything to that exstent, but her snout is a little burgered up. Is this a real call for concern? If so how can I treat it? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

**Minor Disclaimer: With any health issue it is ALWAYS better to seek the help of a veterinarian... Many people learn the hard way what is severe and what is not and I would hate for that to happen to you and your animal**

That being said:
Depends on the severity, I've seen multiple Uroplatus (including fimbriatus) with some nasty nose injuries and recovered with no treatment at all. Linneatus are notorious for having such an aggressive feeding strike that they repeatedly re-injure their noses and I've seen fimbriatus do the same. If it's eating well and seems otherwise healthy I would monitor for any signs of infection but otherwise let it be. The stress of manipulation and treatment can sometimes be worse than the wound its self on some of the more fragile geckos. If you have a picture of the injury that could help give us a better idea as to the severity and recommend whether it needs attention or not.

good luck

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lost in the jungle somewhere
Z

Thanx zbass,
Since posting this message I've read many accounts of people who were having the same problem. So I just try to take most of the hard objects out of the tank at feeding time. Althouth this does not stop my fimbriatus from hitting her snout on the glass itself, which I've seen her do more than once. It seems like every time her snout is almost completely healed, bam she does it again. I'm sure this can't be good over a long term period. I just don't know what else to do to prevent this.
Regards,
naturewalk

If the bumping is occurring during feeding, here are two other suggestions:

Tong feed
or
Use a container (small sized pet pals work great) and cut a piece of soft foam (something with some give to it, not styro) to fit the bottom dimensions of the container. Put your food items in there and place it in the enclosure (preferably near a branch or perch of hers so she can easily see and access the food within). It will keep the crickets in one place and when your gecko goes after them ideally she'll bang her nose onto the foam instead of glass, plastic, etc.

Just make sure the sides of the container are opaque (you can use masking tape) otherwise your gecko may try to attack through the side and it will be even worse than without the container.

good luck
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lost in the jungle somewhere
Z

Again thanx zbass. I shall try the padded container as it will also help keep a cleaner tank. I've tried tongs and she is to shy to eat with me around most times.
Greatly appreciated,
naturewalk

Also, you may want to try a deli cup with an inch or two of water in it. put another delicup of the same size inside the one with the water this way it floats. the water and space allows for some shock absorbtion. i used it for my henkels. my two males are very aggressive right now.

Appreciate it, another great idea and very simple, cant beat that. I'm going to try some of these suggestions and I'm sure I can get her fixed up.
Thanx naturewalk

This stuborn gecko will not eat out of the container I provided, which is a padded deli cup. Although she did enjoy deficating in it a few times! What to do? I guess feeding with the risk of injury is better than her not eatin at all.
Thanx again, again and again
naturewalk